Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-04-01

AISuLS Reserved.
CHAPTERI.
The great camp OF the CoEapches wa
pitched in & wild and picturesque gorg,
CT the Sierras Cnarrate, where the water
Of the Rio Pecos bounded, eli g1tteriRg
from their rocky source. The ornamentet
lodges Of tanned buf.lo sbin rose thick
like the houses off, large vilIage-in
small basin carpcGgd with grass anc
flowers, which had been Followed cut b,
natures hand between the lofty klouu
tains, and the smoke OF the watch fire:
rose like misty pillars IN the still air
The moon was az its full, and though the
hour OF sunrise was not yet come, 81
around seemed clear es daylight-sl
transparent was the atmosphere, SO cloud
less the sky.
To ard fro, in front Of the narrow
entrance TO the gorge, where their eye;
could scan tee vast extent OF prairie tC
the east, rode the sentiueIs of the camp
and within, piCketed 50 Gs TO be ready FOL
instant use, III case Of alarm, were the
wild steeds Of the Indian braves.
1t would have been g study for painter
that camp! High on either hand rose the
great dark cliff, with vines and shrubs
clingiug here aud there 20 their preCipi-
t0us sides; down them rushed siiVery
Cascades-sumelmC leanirg Of iutO 6
cloud OF spray, again trucking IL Hgh'
gem-drops down into the messy beds
below. Then that picturesque amphi-
theater at the foot of the rocks, now
tented over for ! foreground, weuiC
complete the picture.
1t was not yet the hour OF dawn when q
wild, shIilt yell was heard from the large
central lodge of the camp. Il was the
war whOOp, and scarce mad itS fearful
echoes rung from cliff 20 cliff of the pass
when full 200 warriors bounded out into
the open air, armed with guns, lanCes,
bows, shields and war clubs.
Add with the shrill war cry still quv-
eriUg on MS lips. young LsgOna, the
brave son Of tae.r head chief, spr&ne
from his lod e with his ptqioned lance IL
his hsnd-that lance WhereOn were more
scalp notches now than could be counted
on the Weapon OF the Oldest brave IN the
tribe.
lie WAS tail, formed like an Apollo, With
noble features, and eyes wherein shOhe
the fire of Il true warrior. The war eagle
feathers were tWiued in his scalp lock
and more than one scar upon his broad
breast told that ne had not passed IN.
scathed through the storm of battle. But
there were 10 scars on his back.
"What is the matter? Why has LqgOna
sounded the war whoOp?" asked Nina
haha, mis- father, as he stood by the side
of his son, whose whole frame was quiv-
ering with eXCiu&ment.
"The Great Spirit has spoken to me in
8 dream!'' said the young brave, growing
more calm. "Let the warriors 90 back
to their lodges! l viii tell my father
that which dreamed, and I will take
counsel of him, for there is wisdom in
his heart"
The wondering warriors Obeyed, for the
will of LagCns was law to them. By his
deeds of daring he had won their love
. end respect. And again all WAS quiet in
l the camp.
u "What did the Great Spirit show La
gona in the land of dreams?n asked Ne
msnaha when the two were alone.
ga maiden Of the pale faces, more
beautiful than ali the flowers of the
earth, about to be sacrificed by the Ii
pans. And tire Great Spirit told LagOna
to mount and rescue the maiden and
take her TO his own bosom"
The Old warrior shock his head and
seemed annoyed when his son uttered
these words.
"The dream is not good" said he.
"rhe Chief Of the Comanche must never
defile his blood by mixing it with the
mud of the pale faces. The eyes of my
son were in fOg-he did not see Tight!''
''Nothiug evil comes from the Great
Spirit" said L1gona, quiet y, but firmly
ale led NE to the land of dreams, and
viii r IL 4TAipyrf 7 will 70 I i
pans! If L find there pale-faced maiden
doomed to die, she is mine, and l Will
take her 20 my breast"
"Let Lagoua have q C8re-the Lipsrs
are our friends" said the old chief.
sFriend or foe, Lagona knows no fear,
or feels no love for them!" said the
youGg chief.
And arming himself hastily, but COM
pletely, he went to the pickets ana unf4st-
= ed two powerful ana spirited horses
e white as snow, the other black as
hit. Mounting one ana leading the
Ter he rode forth from the gorge at full
eed-halting only for moment TO tell
guard that he wished no followers,
b desired that the camp should not be
lken up until his return.
the dew lay bright upon the grass
des and the flowers through which ne
PED; and the startled grouse, and deer,
bud antelope fed right and left 2S he rode
S bn-but he needed them not. His course
s Was laid for the Rio San Saba, where be
knew that 8 large body Of Lipans, fresh
{irom for8y into Texas, were encampeG.
CHAPTER II.
4 Bound for the sacr.hCe-rObed for the
bridal of death-yet so beautiful
maiden Of not more than eighteen
$sears-with 3 face faultless in feature, an
Veye blue as the ClOudless heayenS-lOng,
glossy hair OF golden hue IN which, as if
IN mOckery OF her woe, gay feathers had
been tWiSted-was bound TO q blOOd-red
Bake in the center of the Lipan camp;
D5es of snowy white, such as she would
have worn at bridal in the sunny home
from which she had been torn, were upon
her peerless form, and rich jewels were
ION her neck; her cheek was white as the
drifted snow, for hope had departed from
her soul. There was no sign Of mercy il
the painted faces OF the savage warriors
who yelled and dsnCed around her-nO
hope from the yet more merciIess of her
own sex, who Jeered aGd derided her be-
cause she trembied in her helpless agony. |
The fagots were heaped about her feet
the torment was DOS about 20 COM |
mence. With a blazing torch IN his |
hand, Pekito, young chief Of the Lipans, |
approached from the circle of yelling |
demons that surrounded her; and SIS |
they became silent he said:
"The warriors are tired Of dancing
snd singing-itls the turn OF the pale
faced suusW nowr Prki:o would hear
Der sing: her screams would be music to
is ears, for he lost brother by fathers